S.F. Supervisors Consider Measure To Raise Legal Age for Purchasing Tobacco Products

San Francisco supervisors are considering legislation that would raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21. Supervisor Scott Wiener (D), who introduced the measure, said, "By raising the tobacco purchase age to 21, we can reduce adolescent tobacco use, which will help combat addiction, stop long-term illness and prevent premature deaths." Wiener added, "For decades, we have seen the catastrophic health effects of tobacco use, and every day we spend millions of dollars treating people who suffer from an addiction which often starts in their teens."

• "Wiener Seeks To Bump Tobacco-Buying Age to 21" (Gaiser, SFBay News, 11/17).
• "San Francisco Considers Banning Tobacco Sales to Those Under 21" (Font, "KQED News," KQED, 11/17).